KANSAS CITY, Mo. (LEAKXTRA) — The disappearance of Dr. John Forsyth, a respected doctor in the Missouri Ozarks, has left his family and the public with more questions than answers. After being missing for over a week, his body was tragically discovered in an Arkansas lake. However, the circumstances surrounding his death remain shrouded in mystery as investigators have been tight-lipped about the details.
Expanding Deatails On What We Known So Far
Dr. John Forsyth, 49, was last seen alive on May 21, as captured by security cameras in the parking lot of a public pool in Cassville. The footage shows him entering a vehicle, leaving behind his unlocked car containing his wallet, two phones, a laptop, and other personal belongings. According to his brother, Richard Forsyth, the doctor had sent a text to his new fiancée that morning, expressing his plans to see her soon.
The search for Dr. Forsyth began when he failed to show up for his shift at Mercy Hospital in Cassville on May 21. Later that day, his car was found, but investigators have yet to reveal who was driving the other vehicle seen on the surveillance footage.
Life Events
Dr. Forsyth’s family describes him as a devoted father to his eight children and state that he appeared happier than ever before. He had a flawless attendance record at work and would often sleep in an RV outside the hospital while on call. His family firmly denies any suggestion that he may have taken his own life.
At the time of his disappearance, Dr. Forsyth was newly engaged but also recently divorced. Court records show that he had been married and divorced twice to the same woman between 1995 and 2022. Both his brother and the divorce attorney representing his ex-wife affirm that the separation was amicable. In May 2023, a judge ordered Dr. Forsyth to pay $3,999 per month in child support, in addition to $15,000 per month.
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Unanswered Questions
Authorities have yet to disclose whether they believe Dr. Forsyth was a victim of foul play or if he took his own life. Initially, investigators stated that there were no signs of foul play when his empty car was discovered. However, this changed after the recovery of his body.
The Benton County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson, Shannon Jenkins, stated that there is currently no immediate threat to the public but refused to provide further details. The investigation remains ongoing, and no additional information will be released until its completion.
Several crucial details remain unknown, including the connection between Dr. Forsyth and the second vehicle seen in the pool surveillance video. Authorities have neither confirmed any details about the video nor determined if it was recorded before or after Dr. Forsyth’s last contact with his fiancée.
Furthermore, the circumstances surrounding Dr. Forsyth’s journey from Cassville to Beaver Lake, the time and location of his death, and the discovery of any weapon have not been disclosed by investigators.
A Homicide Investigation
The death of Dr. John Forsyth is now being treated as a homicide, according to authorities. His body was found with an apparent gunshot wound in Beaver Lake, Arkansas, by a kayaker on May 30, 20 miles away from his last known location in Cassville.
Forsyth’s Background
Dr. John Forsyth was born in Idaho in 1974 and was the third of seven children. He leaves behind eight children of his own. Despite his recent divorce, he maintained a strong relationship with his minor children, who were granted custody to his ex-wife residing in Idaho.
Forsyth had been a licensed doctor and surgeon in the state of Missouri since July 1, 2005, according to online records. He dedicated nearly 15 years of his career as an emergency physician at Mercy Hospital in Cassville.
He obtained his medical degree from Ross University, headquartered in Barbados. In his professional history, Forsyth was involved in a wrongful death lawsuit in Lawrence County, Missouri, which was settled in March 2022 under confidential terms.
In 2015, he received a public reprimand from the state Board of Registration for the Medical Arts for inadequate record-keeping for two patients.
As the investigation into Dr. Forsyth’s death continues, authorities are working diligently to uncover the truth behind this mysterious case. The public remains eager for answers and closure in the wake of this tragic event.
